Blue cod

Blue cod
Photo by Ian Skipworth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Pinguipedidae
Genus:	Parapercis
Species:	P. colias
Binomial name
Parapercis colias Forster, 1801

Blue cod, Parapercis colias, is a temperate marine fish of the family Pinguipedidae. It is also known variously as Boston blue cod, New Zealand cod, sand perch or its Māori names rawaru and pakirikiri.

It is exclusively found in New Zealand in shallow waters around the rocky coasts of up to the depth of 150 m. It is bluish green to blue black above with white toward the belly. Large examples are usually greenish blue in coloration, while smaller ones are blotched in varying shades of brown. An adult may grow to 60 cm in length and weigh from one to three kg. It feeds mainly on small fish and crabs. Blue cod is strongly territorial. Spawning takes place in southern spring. Blue cod can also change sex from female to male.

It is a plump fish which produces good fillets, but it has a very low oil content. It can be served battered, crumbed, pan-fried or baked. It is an important game fish and is commercially harvested. Blue cod populations are threatened due to heavy pressure from recreational fishing. Annual catch range is between 1,300 to 2,000 tonnes.

References

• "Parapercis colias". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 30 January. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Parapercis colias". FishBase. October 2005 version.

External links

• Blue Cod Fishing and a link to the Blue Cod Fishing Regulations. Ministry of Fisheries.
• Information on Blue Cod and the state of the fishery. Forest and Bird Society.